You may have noticed a lot of activity at the Weiser Wastewater Treatment Plant this past year. The City of Weiser is upgrading their Wastewater Treatment Plant in an effort to meet the new regulations set by the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for Phosphorus reduction going to the Snake River. The current interim limit until December 1, 2016 is 72 lbs/day of Total Phosphorus for an average monthly limit, and 108 lbs/day of Total Phosphorus for an average weekly limit. After December 1, 2016, the new limits will be 14 lbs/day of Total Phosphorus for an average monthly limit, and 21 lbs/day of Total Phosphorus for an average weekly limit.
These new regulations are driven by the new water quality impairment on the Snake River. The State of Idaho 
developed the Snake River Hells Canyon Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) in June 2004, which was approved by EPA in September 2004. The TMDL developed allocations for phosphorus, temperature and TSS (sediment) within the river. The Weiser wastewater treatment plant discharges its final effluent treated water to the Snake River between the sections of the Weiser River and Scott Creek, which is protected for cold water aquatic life. This segment of the river is also designated for domestic water supply and primary contact recreational use.
Part of the changes being made at the Weiser Wastewater Treatment Plant include; upgrading the influent receiving station, aeration basins, aerobic digesters, effluent pumping station and 
SCADA; converting chlorine gas disinfection to on-site sodium hypochlorite generation, and the installation of a new grit removal system and future de-chlorination equipment. Keller Engineers out of Meridian, Idaho have been instrumental in designing and overseeing the project. CNI Contractors Northwest, Inc. are the contractors of record and members of Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Environmental Quality and United Stated Department of Agriculture have all been intricately involved to make sure that the funding is available.
Currently the job is 90% complete with a completion date of January 2016. There will be an open house to the public when completed. Dates to be announced in the local paper and Living in the News.
